Press release: Paris
Sotheby’s | 33 (0)1 53 05 53 66 | Sophie Dufresne | [email protected]
33 (0)1 53 05 52 32 | Chloé Brézet | [email protected]
Leclère-mdv | 33 (0)6 11 70 44 74 | Armelle Maquin | [email protected]
Robert Zellinger de Balkany
Rue de Varenne, Paris
One of the most important Collections of Decorative Arts and
Paintings ever to appear at auction in France
A spectacular pietre dure mounted inlaid ebony cabinet, Roman
in c. 1620, once belonging to Pope Paul V Borghese
An exceptional set of furniture stamped by Bernard Molitor, listed as a historic monument,
probably made for the private Paris mansion of Antoine-César, Duc de Choiseul-Praslin
An enigmatic portrait of the Countess of Carnarvon by Anthony van Dyck
Royal French Tureen from The Duc de Penthièvre Service, by Antoine Sébastien Durand,
Jean-Baptiste Claude Odiot and Charles Nicolas Odiot
A large French Gilt bronze Day and Night clock by André-Charles Boulle,
with a clock face by Abraham Gilbert
Registration no. 2001 – 002 of 25 October 2001
Sale conducted by Philipp Württemberg and Pierre
Paris, 19 May 2016 - Sotheby’s, in association with the Leclère-mdv, is honoured to announce the sale of
the Robert Zellinger de Balkany collection in Paris, during the week of 19th September 2016, at the same
time as the Biennale des Antiquaires. This exceptional collection, assembled over more than fifty years by
Robert Zellinger de Balkany, comes from the Hôtel de Feuquières at Rue de Varenne, Paris.
A passionate and exacting collector, Robert Zellinger de Balkany lived in a setting that was both luxurious
and welcoming: a subtle mix of paintings by great English and Italian masters, exceptional items of
furniture, works of art, timepieces and painted decorations. Part of the collection also reflects his
particular liking for precious materials, whether fabrics or objects in hardstone, gilt bronze and silver. Some
800 lots illustrate the refined way in which this prominent businessman chose to live, as can be seen from
the catalogue devoted to this magnificent collection.
To quote Mario Tavella, Président-directeur général Sotheby’s France and Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe,
"I knew Robert personally for many years. I was always fascinated by this cultivated polyglot, who had a
keen sense of friendship, a powerful appetite for life and unbounded energy, which he expressed in his life
as a businessman, dedicated sportsman and refined collector."
Damien Leclère of the Leclère-mdv : "The collections of the Hôtel de Feuquières illustrate the genius of
Robert Zellinger de Balkany, who was a true collector. Here we have a fabulous, splendid inventory redolent
of the great French style, and a fascinating collection of clocks, unique in the world."
FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART
A man of refined taste, Robert Zellinger de Balkany
surrounded himself with pieces by the most outstanding
artists of their times. French furniture is superbly
represented by the extraordinary set of furniture
stamped by Bernard Molitor, listed as a classified
monument, probably made for the private mansion in
Rue de Grenelle belonging to Antoine-César, Duc de
Choiseul-Praslin (commode, estimate: €300,000-500,000;
secrétaire, estimate: €150,000-300,000), and the medal
cabinets by André-Charles Boulle and his follower, JeanFaizelot-Delorme (estimate: €800,000-1,200,000).
Numerous lots illustrate the collector's liking for pietre dure, like this
spectacular pietre dure mounted inlaid ebony cabinet, Roman
in c. 1620, which once belonged to Pope Paul V Borghese (estimate on
request). This unique piece was bought in 1959 by Robert's father, Aladar
Zellinger de Balkany, on his son's advice.
The magnificent decorative arts mingling English and Italian influences
brilliantly illustrate the style of grand 19th and 20th century residences
influenced by previous centuries, which were the homes of celebrated
builders, financiers, industrialists and aesthetes, like the Rothschilds, Stravos
Niarchos, Giovanni Agnelli, the Patiños, Charles de Beistegui, Arturo LopezWillshaw and Baron de Redé.
The private apartments provide a moving testimony of the interior designed
by Henri Samuel in the 1980s and commissioned by Robert Zellinger de
Balkany. They were filled with works little known to the public but now
highly sought-after by leading collectors.
OLD MASTERS PAINTINGS
Several major Old Masters Paintings marvellously illustrate the most noble genres: portraits and history
painting. The first, with Jacopo Tintoretto's majestic Portrait of Nicola Doria, where the artist takes the
splendour of the genre to its peak (estimate: €200,000-300,000). There is also Anthony van Dyck's
enigmatic Portrait of the Countess of Carnarvon, typical of the artist's influence to English painting
(estimate: €800,000-1,200,000). Lastly, another portrait, this time of an
animal, by the greatest painter of the genre, George Stubbs: a superb
painting of Viscount Gormanston's White Dog; a very rare work on
panel, signed and dated 1781 (estimate: €200,000-300,000).
History painting, mainly Venetian, is illustrated by a powerful work by
Antonio Molinari. Using a close viewpoint that makes the scene
particularly imposing, it shows a key episode in Greek mythology: The
Abduction of Helen (estimate: €80,000-120,000).
History painting makes a further appearance, this time immortalising
the history of modern times, with the monumental painting attributed
to Jacopo Tintoretto, brilliantly depicting a great naval battle, The
Battle of Lepanto. On 7 October 1571, in the Gulf of Patras in Greece,
the Holy League (202 galleys) and the Ottoman fleet (210 galleys)
clashed in a combat that ended in a crushing, resounding victory for the
Western forces (estimate: €300,000-500,000).
CLOCKS
Robert Zellinger de Balkany's greatest passion in terms of art was the one he nurtured for timepieces. He
was fascinated by the many different craftsmen involved in the complex creation of a clock, from the
clockmaker to the bronzeworker by way of the cabinetmaker, and by the everlasting character of the
object, which could function perfectly centuries after it was made. Around 60 clocks and wall clocks
brilliantly illustrate the history of clockmaking in Europe from the 16th to the 19th century.
From the late 16th to the early 17th century, southern Germany,
particularly the region of Augsburg, was the uncontested clockmaking
centre in the West. Pieces by celebrated clockmakers like Hauckh,
Schmidt, Pfaff and Koch provide marvellous examples of the expertise
of the leading clockmakers and craftsmen who produced these
masterpieces.
The greatest clockmakers of the late 17th century, the beginning of the
golden age of French clockmaking, are represented, including
Gaudron, who worked closely with André-Charles Boulle, and created
marvellous mechanics of extraordinary beauty (estimate: €70,000100,000). The large French Regency Day and Night clock in patinated
gilt bronze, with a clock face by Abraham Gilbert, is another example
of collaboration with this great French cabinetmaker (estimate:
€500,000-1,000,000).
The 18th century is illustrated by a spectacular musical clock by the great London clockmaker Charles Clay
(estimate: €120,000-180,000). An example of a case similar to this clock's is now in the British Royal
Collection. This masterpiece is one of many other fine French clocks in chased gilt bronze from the mid-18th
century.
The 19th century pendulum clock by Raingo, which stood in the Salon Rouge, represents a technical and
aesthetic feat from the Empire period (estimate: €100,000-150,000). The extraordinary gilt bronze
pendulum clock by François Linke, which was placed in the dining room, demonstrates how the high quality
of this know-how continued up to the late 19th and early 20th century. This monumental piece is a copy of
one produced 150 years earlier by Claude-Siméon Passemant and Jean-Jacques Caffieri, now in the Château
de Versailles (estimate: €100,000-200,000).
SILVER
Robert de Balkany took care to choose spectacular silver works. French
masterpieces are seen together with large Augsburg silver-gilt cups and
covered cups, and monumental candelabras by Paul Storr. The Duc de
Penthièvre's tureen by Antoine Sébastien Durand, converted to current
taste at the request of his grandson, King Louis-Philippe, by Jean-Baptiste
Claude Odiot and Charles Nicolas Odiot, is part of the only surviving
French royal dinner service (estimate: €500,000-800,000). The pieces of
the service are now in international public and private collections. The
collection also features significant works by Fabergé, Klinkosch, Garrard
and Wickert, the greatest European goldsmiths. A set of table ornaments
consisting of three candelabra by Paul Storr, London, 1817, was made for
the second Earl Talbot (1777-1841) (estimate: €150,000-200,000).
19TH AND 20TH CENTURY PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS
The fine collection of ‘portraits of interiors’ by Alexandre Serebriakoff, Isabelle Rey and Jeffrey Bailey, is
certain to appeal to collectors. This represents a valuable record of the Rue de Varenne mansion's interior
design during the 1980s.
ROBERT ZELLINGER DE BALKANY
A visionary and an exceptional entrepreneur
"Robert de Balkany was my friend for over fifty years. Many saw him as an intelligent, cultivated, charming
and charismatic man. He was also a visionary businessman, who achieved great success in life through his
energy and determination. Few people knew of his commitment to the underprivileged. He gave without
counting, and with an elegance only found in those with true nobility of heart, he made little of his
generosity. He was very proud of his Hungarian origins, and the school he built in Budapest now has over
700 pupils. The State of Hungary expressed its gratitude for this school – "his" school – by awarding him the
country's highest distinction: the Order of Merit. Robert de Balkany was a great man and a personality such
as one rarely meets in this life." Archduke Michael de Habsbourg-Lorraine
Robert Zellinger de Balkany (1931-2015) was born in Hungary on 4 August 1931. His father, Aladar Zellinger
de Balkany, an engineer and developer, left Hungary for France with his family in 1938. He developed
textile industries in the North, which he subsequently sold to work with his son. He took French citizenship
in 1956.
After attending the Institution Sainte-Marie de Monceau, Robert left for the USA to continue his studies at
Yale University, graduating with a Master of Arts in Architecture.
The discovery of big American shopping centres was a revelation to him, and he decided to import the
concept into France. The gifted entrepreneur gave various forms to this revolutionary idea, creating forty or
so shopping centres in Europe. Parly 2, which opened in 1969, was one of his most important successes,
and a benchmark in France's commercial history. This large-scale project brilliantly illustrated the
innovative concept setting up a luxury residential block at the gates of a sophisticated shopping centre, and
introducing an "American" style of living to France. Robert Zellinger de Balkany then brought the concept
into the Paris region, the French provinces, and various European countries.
A passionate polo player, considering it "the most extraordinary sport in the world", Robert Zellinger de
Balkany won the Coupe d'Or de Deauville three times, and built his own polo field in Sainte-Mesme, to
which he invited teams from all over the world.
EXHIBITION OF HIGHLIGHTS
Sotheby’s, Galerie Charpentier - 11 to 15 June 2016 (except Sunday 12 June)
Sotheby’s London – 2 to 6 July 2016
Visit us on: www.sothebys.com/en/inside/services/press/news/news.html
www.leclere-mdv.com
Follow us on: www.twitter.com/sothebys
Join us on: www.facebook.com/sothebys & www.weibo.com/sothebyshongkong
Take a look on: www.youtube.com/sothebys
SOTHEBY’S
Sotheby’s has been bringing collectors and world-class works of art together since 1744. It became the first international auction
house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), and the first to hold sales in Hong Kong (1973), France (2001) and China
(2012). Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in eight major sale rooms, including in New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris. With
Sotheby’s Financial Services, it is the world’s only art financing company, and it provides the opportunity to bid in more than 70
collection categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art department, as well as Sotheby’s Diamonds
and Sotheby’s Wine. Sotheby’s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York
Stock Exchange (BID).
LECLERE AUCTION HOUSE
Created in 2006 by Damien Leclère, the Leclère auction house has acquired an expertise and reputation that extend far beyond the
national sphere. Its small team of around twenty highly-specialised staff has stood out on numerous occasions for the frequency
and quality of the catalogues, which reflect erudite and open-minded knowledge of collections and objets d’art. Established in Paris
and the south of France, the Leclère auction house has already achieved fine results in the field of Old Masters, with the sale in
th
2009 of four paintings by the Austrian 17 century school depicting an embassy to Constantinople, and another in 2011 of a
painting by Girodet. Recognised for its effective and relevant communication, the Leclère auction house provides a bespoke service
to collectors keen to present their objects in the best possible light at auction.
*Estimates do not include the buyer's premium, and prices consist of the hammer price and the buyer's premium
Images are available on request
All the catalogues can be viewed online at www.sothebys.com or on the Sotheby’s Catalogue iPad app